Producing facial composite sketches in remote cognitive interviews:a preliminary investigation

Justice systems around the world are increasingly turning to videoconferencing as a means to reduce delays and reduce costs in legal processes. This preliminary research examined whether interviewing a witness remotely - without physical co-presence of the witness and interviewer - could facilitate the production of quality facial composite sketches of suspects. In Study 1, 42 adults briefly viewed a photograph of a face. The next day they participated in Cognitive Interviews with a forensic artist, conducted either face-to-face or remotely via videoconference. In Study 2, 20 adults participated in videoconferenced interviews, and we manipulated the method by which they viewed the developing sketch. In both studies, independent groups of volunteers rated the likeness of the composites to the original photographs. The data suggest that remote interviews elicited effective composites; however, in Study 1 these composites were considered poorer matches to the photographs than were those produced in face-to-face interviews. The differences were small, but significant. Participants perceived several disadvantages to remote interviewing, but also several advantages including less pressure and better concentration. The results of Study 2 suggested that different sketch presentation methods offered different benefits. We propose that remote interviewing could be a useful tool for investigators in certain circumstances. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Multicomponent cognitive-behavioral therapy for intermittent explosive disorder by videoconferencing: a case study

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) has proved to be effective, with moderate to large effect sizes both in individual and group interventions. Videoconferencing has been used effectively to treat different mental disorders but its use for IED patients is as yet unknown. The aim of this study is to provide preliminary evidence of the possibility of treating IED by videoconference. We present a case-study experiment of a Spanish male, aged 33 years, living and working in China. After the intervention, the patient's aggressive episodes decreased dramatically, as well as his negative affect. In contrast, he showed an important increment in positive emotions and self-esteem. There were also positive changes in some personality dimensions and facets measured by NEO-PI-R, specifically in neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness. The benefits were maintained at 3-, 8- and 18-month follow-ups. These preliminary results reveal that CBT by videoconference oriented to increasing emotion regulation skills was effective when implemented in a case study of a person suffering from IED.

El alineamiento modal en el preámbulo de reuniones por videoconferencia

En el presente artículo se introduce el concepto de alineamiento modal, un fenómeno interactivo característico del preámbulo de reuniones por videoconferencia, en las que la interacción puede llevarse a cabo a través del chat escrito, la imagen y la voz. Con tal propósito, se parte del modelo de interacción de Erving Goffman y la metodología del Análisis de la Conversación (AC). A través de una selección de ejemplos extraídos de un corpus de dieciocho interacciones por Adobe Connect 7.0, el análisis muestra que la selección del canal, dentro del contexto analizado, constituye un recurso para el alineamiento y la (re)configuración del marco de participación de las reuniones. Asimismo, se sugiere que dicho recurso es utilizado por los participantes como estrategia para gestionar la orientación recíproca y la toma de turno durante los preámbulos.